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2017 Permitless Carry Scoreboard

Wikipedia tells me that 11 states have permitless carry as of the start of this year. Those states are, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho (residents only), Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming (residents only). There is an argument that resident only permitless carry does not count, and there is an argument that a resident only condition will not hold up to judicial scrutiny. Regardless of this we seem to be off to a good start.

I've seen news of bills submitted for permitless carry in state legislatures in New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. With Iowa this change is a bit different as it is currently being proposed as a constitutional amendment, which makes this a longer and more complex process. If I understand the process correctly a constitutional amendment in Iowa must pass in two consecutive legislatures and then appear on a general election ballot. If the people vote in favor then it's part of the state constitution.

I intend to update this thread periodically through the year as state legislatures debate these bills. I'd appreciate comments, contributions of bill status in the various state legislatures, and corrections as the year progresses. With so many states considering permitless carry legislation I expect this list of states with permitless carry to grow.

You can have free speech or you can have income taxes but you cannot have both.

Farmboy - thanks for compiling that information. As a "victim" of Illinois' backwards laws, I look forward to improvements here and elsewhere.

Life Member of both NRA and North American Hunting Club(huntingclub.com)“Crime is to be expected since humans are never perfect. But the failure of Justice may be more damaging to Society than the crime itself.” - - Clarence Darrow

Oklahoma

I'm on the lookout for something positive here in Oklahoma on the Constitutional Carry issue. Our legislative session begins shortly. So far, I've seen nothing in the wind about CC.

Woody

http://oklahomafirearmservices.com/ If the ends sought cannot be achieved through the means granted to the Federal Government in the Constitution, there is neither a need nor the power for the Federal Government to get involved.. B.E.Wood

Kentucky Senate Bill 7

Originally Posted by Combat Diver

We're getting there. 22% of the nation so far. Wish North Carolina will get on board with it.

CD

Our progress depends on how one computes that percentage. It's 22% based on number of states. It's about 5% based on population. If based on area then one would have to decide if this includes rural areas where concealed carry is protected, if this includes "school zones", and so on. I prefer to point out the population statistic, with only 5% of the USA actually living under the law as the Constitution intended that puts this in a certain perspective.

If we go by area then we might be able to claim that 50% (just pulling that number out of the air) of the USA is "constitutional carry" but who cares about that? If I have to move to another state, or out of city limits, to not fear being cited for carry without a permit then that's not much of a right, is it?

Putting the actual percentage gain aside what is clear is that we've gained "bigly" in the last few years.

Originally Posted by JTHunter

Farmboy - thanks for compiling that information. As a "victim" of Illinois' backwards laws, I look forward to improvements here and elsewhere.

I post these "scoreboards" out of my own curiosity. I'm keeping track of this for myself but I thought I'd share in the hope others find it interesting and hoping others find things I missed and share them here. I'm also hoping that I can get people to speak up on this when it counts by spreading news of when these bills are getting debated. Here's my first call to action this year...

Montana House Bill 262

Earlier this week, the Montana House of Representatives passed constitutional/permitless carry legislation, House Bill 262. HB 262 has now been transferred over to the Senate where it will await a committee referral.

As I recall a bill like this has been tried before in Montana but I am not sure what killed it. Right now there is a Republican majority in both houses of the legislature and a Democratic governor that claims to be supportive of the right to bear arms.

If I were to bet on the end of year tally I would guess a gain of at least three states at this point. Place your guesses here and the winner gets bragging rights. We'll make up the rules as it goes along. Perhaps we'll make a preference for earliest and most accurate guess.

You can have free speech or you can have income taxes but you cannot have both.

I'm in at two. While I'd love to see it happen in SD, major gun rights improvements (in a state that's already got great lack of gun restrictions) really take a beating in committee.

Any guesses as to which two? I'm guessing that New Hampshire, Montana, and then either Virginia or North Dakota will see permitless carry get passed, though not necessarily take effect, by the end of this calendar year.

On Thursday, February 9, Senate Bill 12 will be going before the full House of Representatives for a vote. If passed, SB 12 will eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit in order to lawfully carry. Gun-control advocate Michael Bloomberg has been organizing attacks against Governor Chris Sununu for his support of SB 12. Please contact Governor Sununu and thank him for supporting this critical legislation! Also, please continue contacting your state Representative and urging them to vote in favor of SB 12.

Current Governor Chris Sununu, sworn in last week, is on the record as saying he would sign a constitutional carry bill, according to the Concord Monitor. New Hampshire gun owners remain hopeful he will keep his word if the bill finds its way to his desk.

So it passed the Senate, is now in the House, and the Governor said he'd sign if on his desk. I'm not counting chickens yet but this egg looks ready to hatch. While Republicans don't always equal a favorable view on the right of self defense it does tend to lean that way and the Republicans do hold a majority in the NH House. I saw nothing to indicate when this vote would be held.

You can have free speech or you can have income taxes but you cannot have both.

A bill that would make it easier for Granite Staters to carry a concealed weapon on Thursday easily passed its final major legislative hurdle on its path toward becoming law.

The state House of Representatives voted 200-97 in favor of the measure, which would repeal the need for a permit or license to carry a concealed handgun. There were a large number of absent state representatives, due to the powerful snowstorm slamming New Hampshire.

The requirement to obtain permission from the government to carry a concealed tool of self defense has been removed in New Hampshire.

At least some people in New England can read the Constitution.

Woody

http://oklahomafirearmservices.com/ If the ends sought cannot be achieved through the means granted to the Federal Government in the Constitution, there is neither a need nor the power for the Federal Government to get involved.. B.E.Wood

Texas HB 1911 debated in committee

The Texas House will be debating HB 1911 in committee soon, this bill would remove the need to acquire a permit to carry to lawfully conceal and carry a sidearm. Texans should contact their legislators and urge them to support this bill.

I find it amusing that the bill number coincides with one of the most popular models of handguns ever made. Perhaps this is a good sign.

You can have free speech or you can have income taxes but you cannot have both.